Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Alumni

Alumni Letter - April 2020

I hope that this message finds you all safe and healthy. The COVID-19 pandemic is creating a significant disruption in our lives, and, like many/most of you, I am working from home trying to maintain the GSBS focus on our trainees and protecting the precious research programs across the university. Members of our community are trying to cope with the loss of a family member’s income, managing their children’s education at home as schools are shuttered, and feeling isolation from being cut off from our normal routines. For now, this is the new normal.

Here at UTMB, we are taking steps to keep students moving forward toward their advanced degrees. UTMB shifted all “in person” instruction to online formats effective March 23rd. Classes, small group discussions, and degree candidates’ advisory committee meetings and dissertation defenses are occurring by Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams or other online tools. We credit the faculty for stepping up and finishing this academic term with online content and group sessions with only one week’s notice. For this year’s graduates, the GSBS is planning for a “virtual commencement” and hope that there may be an opportunity for a “in person” ceremony in late summer.

We are also proud of our trainees who have quickly adjusted to the new online format and others who have answered the call for volunteer efforts. At UTMB, there is much infectious disease research on SARS CoV-2, a high throughput screening assay, and an innovative quantitative antibody assay that will be essential for SARS CoV-2 vaccine development and other applications. A call for student volunteers to assist with COVID testing went out and sixty trainees volunteered immediately. Other students are working on providing public health education about the virus and preventive health measures. These students are on the path to becoming successful scientists and alumni, following in your footsteps.

We are committed to you as alumni and want to hear from you about your experiences during this time. This past week, the Texas State Historical Association released an eBook containing a collection of epidemic-related entries to the Handbook of Texas Medicine of which GSBS alumna and faculty member, Dr. Heather Green Wooten, is Project Director. The book contains many UTMB-related topics, including a history of the medical school, the Galveston National Laboratory and the Bubonic Plague Epidemic of 1920. The free eBook may be requested via the following link: https://join.tshaonline.org/ebook-offers/malaise-to-miracles/. If you have any news you would like to share, please let us know.

The day will come soon when we can once again enjoy the company of our friends, colleagues, and co-workers in person. For now, stay safe and let’s take care of ourselves and each other. I am confident that we will get through this challenging time together.

David W. Niesel, PhD
Dean, GSBS

GSBS Associates Officers and Executive Board Members

Alumni Board

Ralph J. Henderson, Jr., PhD

Vicente Santa Cruz, Jr., PhD

Shannon D. Langford, PhD

Alumni Executive Members

Evelyn M. McKinney, JD, PhD

Efrain Siller, MD, PhD

Sara Woodson, PhD

Maj. Carlos Barrera, PhD

Martin Wasserman, PhD, MA

John Wolf, Jr. MD, MA

Karen E. Alexander, PhD, RN

Heather Green Wooten, PhD

Alumni Home page

The UTMB GSBS Associates was established by
alumni in 1996 to advance the cause of graduate education, to promote
the interest of the institution and to encourage participation of all
alumni in activities of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
Other purpose are:

To assist the GSBS with identification and recruitment of outstanding and diverse students.

To foster and facilitate fellowship and communication between and among present and former students, faculty and staff members.

To promote excellence in research and patient care by communicating information about and hosting educational events.

To inform the Associates' membership of current GSBS student, faculty and staff achievements and activities at UTMB.

To recommend to the appropriate committee outstanding GSBS alumni who should be considered for annual recognition awards.

Be a part of our new "Be One, Bring One!" alumni challenge!
Want to get an exclusive UTMB Health Alumni Challenge coin? It's easy … once you have renewed or joined the alumni association, challenge an alumnus who is not a current member to join as well. With their paid membership, you will receive an exclusive UTMB Health Alumni Challenge Coin!

This program is designed to match GSBS students and postdocs seeking career assistance with GSBS alumni volunteer mentors. Alumni may volunteer to help with things like industry connections, resume/CV preparation, job negotiation skills, advice for relocating in their area, whether or not to undertake a postdoc position and other career-related topics. A initial survey permits alumni volunteers to set their own contact parameters, with an annual commitment renewal.Click above to volunteer today.

Loresto, Jr., Figaro - Exploring The Use Of Social Network Analysis On Physician Networks Created From Medicare Data Through Studying The Use Of Minimally Invasive Breast Biopsy Among Physicians: Descriptions, Regressions, And Network Models

Buschmann, Robert - Does Context Matter To ACEs? The Role Of State Economic Context And Selected State Policies In Childhood AdversitFang, Xiao - Joint Models For Longitudinal Analysis And Competing Risks In Survival Analysis

REHABILITATION SCIENCE

Hay, Catherine - The Impact Of Gender, Age, And Performance On Stroke Survivors’ Goal Conceptualization, Prioritization, And AttainmentKulkarni, Kshitija - Effect Of Obesity On Outcomes Following Total Hip/Total Knee Arthroplasty Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Osteoarthritis

Dr. Vicente Santa Cruz, President of the GSBS Associates Executive Committee welcomed new incoming GSBS students at the Introduction to Community of Scholars ceremony. Also in attendance at the ceremony was Dr. Shannon Langford, Vice President of the GSBS Associates Executive Committee.

Distinguished GSBS Alumni Wall - Health Education Center

Community of Scholars

The open book symbolizes these unifying ideals of the Community of Scholars:

Recognition of scholarly works as the culmination and the product of research.

Respect for the authors of those works as members of a group which adheres to known standards of honesty and integrity.

Encouragement of the freedom to pursue an idea within those standards, and

Acceptance of the responsibility and the privilege to share knowledge with colleagues and with the public.